Nearly a dozen Myanmar civilians have been missing in the township of Mrauk-U in restive Rakhine state since a mid-month flare-up in fighting between government soldiers and the rebel Arakan Army, though the national military has denied arresting them, according to an RFA report.

Eight of the missing are from the township’s Yan Aung Pyin, Tanaing Khan, and Tharsi villages, while another three are vendors from northwest Myanmar’s Sagaing region, sources said.

Clashes between Myanmar troops and the Arakan Army (AA) occurred in all three Mrauk-U township villages during the past week, sources said.